MINNEAPOLIS -- After a career year offensively, Twins left fielder Josh Willingham was rewarded with his first Silver Slugger Award on Thursday.

In his first season in Minnesota, Willingham set career highs in homers (35), RBIs (110), runs (85) and OPS (.890). The slugger also played in a career-high 145 games, as he was able to avoid the disabled list.

For his efforts, he joined Angels center fielder Mike Trout and Rangers center fielder Josh Hamilton as the three Silver Slugger Award winners in the outfield.

The Silver Slugger, which was first awarded in 1980, is voted on by coaches and managers from both leagues, and voters are prohibited from rewarding players on their own team.

Willingham proved to be one of the better offseason signings before last season, as the 33-year-old had a breakout year with the Twins after signing a three-year deal worth $21 million.

He got out to a hot start, hitting .347 with five homers in April and entered the All-Star break hitting .261 with 19 homers and 60 RBIs in 81 games. Willingham failed to make the All-Star team but stayed consistent in the second half of the year, batting .259 with 16 homers and 50 RBIs in 62 games.

Willingham is Minnesota's first Silver Slugger Award winner since Joe Mauer took home the award for the fourth time in 2010. Other Twins who have won the award are Kirby Puckett (1986-89, '92), Paul Molitor ('96), Chuck Knoblauch ('95, '97) and Justin Morneau (2006, '08).